The Sky+ app for Android and iPhone is a must for any Sky customer and allow you to check TV listings and record your favourite programs all through your phone.

I use this app quite a lot when I’m at work when my colleagues are talking about what programs they watched or are coming soon. I do a quick search and the app will show the listings for the next seven days and if I fancy watching it, I just click on record and it records to my Sky box at home when it’s on.

This app is also good if you’re out and about as you often see adverts, whether you’re shopping or having a few beers in the pub and by the time you get home you’ve forgotten what it was. With this app you’re just a couple of clicks away from recording it.

Obviously I would love to have Sky Go app on my Android phone but my LG Optimus 3D isn’t compatible at the moment, so the Sky+ app will have to do for now.

I like to smoke and I like new and novel smoking devices, so when I came across the Plenty Handheld vaporizer on the Shiva Head Shop I had to take a closer look. Made by the same people that brought you the Volcano Vaporizer, this new device has a lot to live up to.

The Plenty Vaporizer is compact and lightweight, making it a great choice for those who are constantly on the move, and is powerful enough to get the job done. This vaporizer seems really easy to use, simply plug it in, fill it up with your chosen herbs and your away.

The Plenty Handheld Vaporizer has a temperature control which can be set between 130°c and 202°c and comes with a three year manufacturer’s guarantee.

I’m really interested in this vaporizer, as I’ve been dreaming of getting the Volcano Vaporizer for some time, but I think this device might better suit me because of its compactness and ease of use.

If only I had some money!

T-shirt printing at home is a great way to create individual designs, express yourself and save money.  It is relatively easy provided that you have the right equipment.  The potential for T-shirt designing is endless – individuals can create decorative one-off T-shirts, T-shirts for sports teams or other small groups of people, or T-shirts that will mark special occasions.  T-shirt printing at home is also a great way to create individualized gifts.

One method that is available for T-shirt printing at home is stencilling, using special inks.  This can be fun, but it can also be very time consuming.

Another, less time consuming, method is screen printing.  This method requires screen printing fabric ink (ensure that your chosen ink is washable), a screen (which can be bought readymade, or can be made by stretching mesh over a cheap canvas stretcher frame and stapling it so that it is taut), a squeegee, plain paper, a craft knife, masking tape, and a basic cotton T-shirt.  This method offers a fairly good value for money as the equipment can be used again and again.

It is also possible to print T-shirts using transfers.  Special transfer paper for inkjet printers can be purchased from computer or craft shops.  The design can be printed on the paper, and then applied to the T-shirt using a heat press such as an iron.  This is an effective method for transferring images such as full colour photographs.  However, the transfer paper can be quite expensive, and eventually the transfer may wear out or crack.

A gravel path can make a big improvement to a garden, creating a sense of order and preventing your lawn being churned up and mud being trampled into the house. Although fairly physically demanding, laying a gravel path is not difficult and can be fairly cheap too. The only tools you will need are a spade and a sledgehammer.

First, mark out the outline of the path with the help of string, sand or an aerosol. Then dig out the length of the path to a depth of around 10-15cm. Hammer in some edging on both sides of the path – this can be timber, brick or a flexible product for curved paths – and tread down the bottom of the trench to make a solid base.

You can then fill in the base layer of the path, usually with hardcore and coarse gravel, to about half the depth of the trench. For extra protection against weeds, you may want to spread weedkiller or lay plastic sheeting down under the base layer.

Cover this with sand and make sure that you have an even base on which to lay your topcoat of gravel. This can be anything from granite chippings to pea gravel to beach pebbles, and there are many sizes and colours to choose from. Fill the path up to just below the level of the edging so that the gravel doesn’t overflow. You should now have a lovely new gravel path that will last for many years.

Selling your car can be quite a daunting task, when first contemplated. However, due to the many websites on the internet that provide informative, accurate and reliable information, selling your used car has never been easier.

Finding a car valuation is easy on the internet, and there are even websites that will give you a quote and instantly buy your car. They will then arrange to pick your car up at a convenient time for you. This is a stress free and easy way to sell your used car. However, if you wish to sell your car privately, to a dealer or at an auction, there are still websites on the internet which will help you to promote, advertise and sell your car in a manner which is reliable, informative and will command the respect of buyers. Making prospective customers feel comfortable and relaxed about the whole transaction will make selling your car much easier; as much information as you can provide about your car, such as service history, MOT information, accurate mileage, lots of pictures and an accurate description of the car, both inside and out, will ensure good interest in your car.

There are websites on the internet where you can advertise your car. There are even online auctions where selling your car is made easy, most of these online selling websites offer step by step instructions to make the whole process easier. If, however, you decide to sell privately, you can still get advice on the internet about the best ways to market your car. Selling to a trader is another option that can be explored.

In whatever manner you decide to sell your car, it is a comfort to know that all the resources and information that you need is at your fingertips on the internet.

Whilst I was sleepily wandering about the kitchen this morning making tea and getting things ready for breakfast before I drove to work, an item on the radio programme caught my attention. The item was about taking exercise and during it the presenter suggested that you need only take 3 minutes a week of intensive exercise, now that certainly caught my attention!

The claim seems pretty outrageous, but it is apparently supported by many years of research done in a number of different countries including the UK. It is claimed that according to the research, a few relatively short bursts of intense exercise, amounting to only a few minutes a week, can deliver many of the health and fitness benefits of hours of conventional exercise. The principal is that you use an exercise bike and warm up by doing gentle cycling for a couple of minutes, then go flat out for 20 seconds and then stop. This is repeated after you have rested and got your breath back then it’s another full throttle pedalling, more rest and then a final 20 second burst, that is it!

According to the presenter, you are using far more of your muscle tissue than classic aerobic exercise, you are using not just the leg muscles, but also the upper body including arms and shoulders, so that 80% of the body’s muscle cells are activated, compared to 20-40% for walking or moderate intensity jogging or cycling. Well I’m not sure and I certainly will not undertake it before I have a word with my doctor first.

As you would have read in one of my earlier posts, me and my wife went to Paris last week and it was a great holiday. I have been to Paris before (mainly with work), but my wife hadn’t so we did the usual tourist stuff like The Louvre and Eiffel Tower.

We also walked down the Champs-Élysées, but we didn’t buy much. If you’re ever thinking of going to Paris, using the Metro system is a must for getting around. You can buy 1,3 or 5 day passes and get a handy map of all of the metro and rail lines. Getting around is easy as everything is colour coded and numbered and there is literally a Metro station on every corner.

One of the highlights of the trip was visiting the Père Lachaise Cemetery, a place where I wouldn’t necessarily gone, but my wife wanted to. This cemetery is set in 100 acres of land in Paris and houses some of the most famous bodies in the world including Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison. There are truly some great pictures to be taken there and I’d thoroughly recommend it.

The hotel was also nice, situated near the Eiffel Tower we had great views of the iron beast from our window and the staff were really nice too, answering all of our questions.

The one thing I would say is that Paris on the whole is expensive, much like London here in the UK, so if you’re planning to visit Paris make sure you save up.

I’d definitely go back to Paris again as we still have much more to see, so we’ll be saving up again soon.

Leeds proudly describes itself as the ‘UK’s favourite city’ and this old northern urban centre certainly does have a variety of amenities and activities to suit all tastes.

For anyone looking to find a new home in Leeds there are many houses and city centre flats as well as an abundance of properties in rural areas on the outskirts of the city.  According to a recent report commissioned by the BBC, the average price for a detached property is £312,788 but for those on a more modest budget the prices for semi-detached and terraced houses range can be much cheaper.  City centre flats can be bought for a reasonable price.

Leeds has a cosmopolitan reputation, many major firms have relocated to the city in recent years and the shopping and commercial centres have expanded.  The busy university attracts a large student population and parents often buy their offspring one of the city centre terraced houses to ensure their housing needs during their academic sojourn.  There are currently many houses for sale in Leeds that would be suitable for any purchaser looking to invest in a buy-to-let property.

With its vibrant night life and busy commercial centres many people move to Leeds in order to take advantage of employment opportunities as well as to enjoy the social aspects of the city.  The Yorkshire moors are close by and those planning to buy a house in the city will enjoy the many walks and the rugged landscape of the local scenery.  Leeds is proud of its industrial heritage and the new Granary Wharf development in the centre of the city will satisfy any urbanite who wants to buy a house right in the heart of the older part of Leeds.

Easter is the most important celebration in the Christian calendar, when Jesus died and was resurrected. Along with Easter eggs, Easter bunnies and personalised Easter cards, the holiday marks one of the most beautiful spring traditions.

The week before Easter is called Holy Week and it is a week full of Christian traditions. The most important days to remember are Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. On Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the day Jesus rose again.

Easter has no fixed date and varies between March 22 and April 25, so you need to double check when to send your Easter cards. You may wish to send your cards at the beginning of Holy Week or take time designing a card while you absorb the festive spirit. You may even want to get the children involved in the creative design process. 

Keep in mind that while everyone seems to enjoy receiving Easter cards, not everyone is strongly religious. Think carefully about who will be receiving your card. You could pick a card that symbolises a non-religious Easter theme such as a decorated egg or Easter Bunny.

You can never go wrong with a personalised Easter card. Why not take a picture of your own painted eggs and use it to make personalised cards for your family and friends? Paint the eggs with the kids and take some pictures while you are having fun with the family. Surely a personalised Easter card with a picture of the grandchildren will make your mother really happy.

Me and my wife are taking a much needed romantic break to Paris in just over a week and I can’t wait. The grandparents are coming to stay at ours to look after the kids, so they can still go to school and this gives us the chance to go on holiday on our own for the first time in years.

I have been to Paris before, but my wife has never been so we will be doing the usual tourist things like going to the top of the Eifel Tower, visiting The Louvre and the Champs Elysses. The hotel is situated near the Eifel Tower and our room has a balcony overlooking it which is great.

I’ll have to get lots of money changed as I have a feeling that my wife will want to do a bit of shopping and I want to at least spend one night in a top restaurant when I’m there.

My Digital SLR camera is charged and ready to go, so we’re just waiting till Monday now.

I’ll post some pictures here when we get back